HARTFORD - While Democrats in Connecticut hold a strong grip on state and federal offices, it's the Republican Party that controls the majority of local elected offices such as mayors and first selectmen.

The GOP hopes to build upon those successes Tuesday, when voters head to the polls in most cities and towns, and possibly tap into that momentum next year when U.S. House and statewide seats including the governor are up for grabs.

"We absolutely expect to expand upon the majority of cities and towns under Republican control, just as we did in 2011," said Jerry Labriola Jr., chairman of the state Republican Party. "Success this Tuesday will set the stage for the epic midterm election in 2014, which will be a referendum on Connecticut's last-place economic standing under (Gov.) Dan Malloy."

Democrats disagree, arguing that local elections are often about local issues and people.

"There's not a Democratic or Republican way to fix a pothole," said Jonathan Harris, executive director of the Connecticut Democrats, who has worked as a local official. He said he hasn't heard about the governor and his performance being brought up as an issue on the campaign trail.

Of the 169 cities and towns throughout Connecticut, Republicans control about 57 percent of the top offices, according to accountings by the Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats, meanwhile, have the majority of seats in the General Assembly, control all the constitutional offices including governor, and hold the five U.S. House and two U.S. Senate seats.

Labriola contends that Republicans are successful locally because they stand for keeping local taxes low and spending under control.

Malloy, a former Stamford mayor, has yet to announce whether he plans to seek a second term as governor. However, he has played a role in this year's local elections.

Malloy has been actively involved in fundraising efforts for the state Democratic Party, signing an email to supporters Friday — four days before the municipal elections — that urged people to make a minimum $5 contribution to "help campaigns organize more efficiently, use campaign tolls more strategically and contact even more voters between now and Election Day."

Harris said the party has stepped up its efforts to help local candidates this year, saying, "We expect that this long-term strategy is going to pay dividends over time."

Malloy also actively supported state Sen. Toni Harp in her Democratic primary for New Haven mayor. Harp won that primary and now faces Democratic Alderman Justin Elicker, who gathered enough signatures to petition his way on to the ballot.

Malloy also backed state Rep. William Tong in his Democratic primary in the Stamford mayoral race, but Tong lost to David Martin, a senior partner with a management consulting firm.

Martin will face off Tuesday against former Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, a businessman who has been endorsed by his former running mate, former Gov. M. Jodi Rell. It is an open seat because Republican Mayor Michael Pavia decided not to seek a second term in office.

Page 2 of 2 - While there are races for other open seats in communities such as Torrington and Vernon, strong challenges are also predicted for the top positions in Norwalk, East Haven, Southbury, New Britain, Bristol, Branford, Cromwell, Southbury, Westport and Guilford.

There are no mayoral elections this year in the state's two other large cities, Hartford and Bridgeport, where school board races are the hottest contests on the ballot.